by Deborah Farber
If you want to develop new self-care practices, there's a resource for you. Created in 2022, the Be Well Community within MLA is a forum for librarians and staff to learn about personal and workplace wellness strategies. The Community hosts an hour-long panel discussion on a different topic each month. The sessions are scheduled from September to April, with a culminating event held at the MLA Annual Meeting.
In September, "Pens, Planners, and Productivity" focused on getting organized for work and school. Fellow MLGSCA Member Elisa Cortez was one of the panelists. Though preferred methods varied, all panelists emphasized picking a planning method that works for you. Planning can become part of self-care by incorporating reflection into the planning process.
The October session was all about "Preparing Plants for Changing Seasons." One of the panelists suggested, “Let nature do the work." The panelist allows seeds to fall to the ground and sprout when the conditions are right. Another panelist provided tips for gardening by season. For the third panelist, gardening is therapy.
The November topic was "Gifts and Gratitude: Sharing the Gift of Creativity." During the one-hour session, panelists provided ideas for incorporating creativity into gratitude practices. One suggested practice was visual journaling, a combination of words and art.
The next session, "Recipe for Resilience," will occur on December 13th at 1:00 pm CST. There is no cost to register for the session. To attend, join the Be Well Community. As a community member, you'll have access to previous session recordings and resources mentioned during each session.
